Friday, February 20, 2015

College Financial Aid Advice For Parents And Students

By Olivia Cross


College can be expensive. In fact, with rising tuition costs more individuals are seeking out resources to help lower their bill. Whether you are a returning student, single parent, or fresh out of high school you may be looking for sources that will make the college experience in Stamford, CT more affordable. Here are some easy tips and strategies on college financial aid advice for those seeking out a higher education.

Before doing anything else, spend some time doing research to get a feel for what opportunities exist, and which ones may be a good fit for your particular needs. Do not depend on others to do it for you. No one knows what you need better than you do.

Students may be tempted to pawn off research to companies that claim to do all the work for them. While this may sound tempting, these companies usually come with a hefty price tag, and give you the same results you would get by using free databases or college resources. Plus, as stated before companies may overlook details that could detract from your chances of getting approved for a scholarship.

A great way to search for grants and scholarships is through the use of the internet. College websites and general search engines will provide you with a list of available scholarships. In addition, there are several databases that incorporate search criteria that will match your qualifications to existing opportunities.

Do not forget to contact the school financial aid adviser or counselor as this person can be a fountain of knowledge. They have access to a variety of scholarships, and will help guide students to other forms of tuition assistance. Sitting down and spending thirty to sixty minutes with a counselor can help open many doors you may not have been aware of.

Often students are encouraged to fill out a FAFSA application. This form matches you to available federal loans, existing grants, and various scholarships. Make sure to fill out this document as soon as it comes out in order to increase your chances of assistance as many programs have limited funds. This can also introduce you to a possible private loan directly from a college in Stamford, CT.

Starting the research process early means you will have better chances of obtaining financial assistance. This gives you more time to prepare, learn about the different options available, and increases the odds of getting the grant or scholarship. Plus, if one option falls through, you have time to consider other options.

The classic cliche, do not put all your eggs in one basket, holds true in the case of financial aid. Students will often discover that one scholarship is not enough to cover cost of living expenses, tuition, books, and so forth. In this case other routes will be needed to make up the difference in the form of need based aid, scholarships, grants, private scholarships, schools that offer reduced tuition, and federal based student loans.

It is crucial to spend time searching out available opportunities in the forms of loans, scholarships, and grants. By being aware of the different types of assistance, you will be able to find a variety of ways to reduce the costs of a higher education. Incorporating two or more of these methods will provide you with a good starting off point.




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